A blog by Vitessesteve mostly about Triumph car stuff. Featuring articles about Standard Triumph car dealers. Includes new free technical literature such as Parts Catalogues, Workshop Manuals and Owners Handbooks.

Saturday, July 29, 2017

Duff Morgan & Vermont of Norwich - Triumph Car Dealer 40

This article is number 40 in my series about Triumph Car Dealers and features Duff Morgan & Vermont of Norwich.

Some history

Duff Morgan & Vermont was formed in 1909, by three men: Colonel Granville Duff, John Delmar Morgan and his brother-in-law, Commander Oliver Locker-Lampson. The company is still trading today under the abbreviated name ‘Duff Morgan’ with sites in Norwich and Kings Lynn.

Duff Morgan modern logo

The company had premises in London’s Piccadilly and Norwich. During World War I, Winston Churchill commissioned Duff Morgan to create armoured war vehicles for the Admiralty. These were drafted and manufactured in Piccadilly. At the same time, the company was designing and building cars for the civilian population of Norfolk.

Duff Morgan coach works Norwich

After the end of World War I, Duff Morgan ceased trading in London and focused instead on serving customers purely in Norwich.

And following the end of World War II, the company was Standard-Triumph’s sole distributor in Norwich and most of the county.

Duff Morgan advert from 1975

Show and Service Week promotions

Staff from Standard Triumph HQ visited the business and assisted the firm with week long Show and Service promotions. These were held by the firm at;: their Victoria Garage, Norwich premises on 13th to 17th April 1959; at St Stephens Street October 31st to November 1st 1960 and on 20th to 24th April 1959, 17th to 21st October 1960, 21st to 25th September 1964, 13th to June 17th1966 and 30th October to 3rd November 1967 at St Giles Gates, 3 Earlham Road, Norwich.

Rear window sticker

Duff Morgan rear window sticker

St Christopher tax disc holder

Duff Morgan St Christopher tax disc holder

Thanks to Graham Andrew who sent me this photo of a Duff Morgan tax disc holder as fitted to his Triumph TR6.

Norfolk Motor Shows

Norwich Triumph distributors, Duff, Morgan & Vermont Ltd, provided an extensive display at the 1967 annual motor show held at RAF Watton. The show attracted large numbers of local visitors, and in addition to the static displays there are test run facilities and vintage and veteran car displays.

The East African Safari rally Triumph 2000 and Leyland Straight 8 formed part of the display at the 1968 "Motor In" held at Coltishall.

Not just Norwich

Over the years the firm have operated from various different premises not all of them in Norwich.
Guildhall Street, Thetford

Duff, Morgan & Vermont Ltd currently have premises in Kings Lynn as well as Norwich.

Triumph car dealers in Norwich

I have several dealer directories of Standard Triumph cars. I have extracted information for Norwich here.

Plea for information

If you have any more information or recollections about Duff Morgan & Vermont, photos of window stickers, dealer badges or sill plates etc please let me know. I can be contacted via the comments to this post or on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/stephen.weblin